This was good, overall. I wasn't sure at first because she went HARD for the 'essential oils' can 'cure' everything. False, that is completely incorrect and really harmful to spread.

But as the book went on, I really appreciated how she handled the friends to lovers, and getting to hear from Ian made me cry, no lie.

Lovely to see our friends again in one of my favorite series!

Also, I would love if she would either commit to being 100% accurate about chicago stuff or make it up completely. Her 90% accuracy drives me insane, but i've been ignoring it for 5 books. ( )

Ahh, I missed these guys.

This is calmer than the earlier books. For me, it's not quite as good; the clueless Eli got on my nerves, the exterior plot was... I didn't care, and it ends in mush that I wasn't as invested in. Ah well. Good, but not great. ( )

I was really excited to find another book...finally...in a series that I had devoured when the first 4 came out. I thought when Miro and Ian married and everything seemed to have come together for the other couples, that sadly that was the end, and it was destined for many, many rereads. Then...I saw Balanced and Tied and ask "Mr. Amazon" to get it coming. I have to say that the first few chapters were a bit of a disappointment. Way. way too much idle chit chat that added nothing to the story except to let us know that all the past characters were still there alive and kicking. I really didn't care about the guy they were moving around from job to job in the office, or the fellow that obviously didn't understand what Witness Protection" was...and then I met Celso Harrington, (Cel... with a "hard K"). He was an absolutely perfect character for the story in every way...and Eli was so obviously the "ONE" for him even if Eli couldn't yet put words to his feelings. In spite of how rude, bossy and contrary he was, the character of Senan, the other principal dancer i the Chicago Ballet Company, was also a huge part of making the story different as well as interesting. I have found that I have a fairly long list of M/M Romance writers that I will buy almost sight unseen and Mary Calmes is diffidently one of them. I hope there is going to be a book #6 in Ms. Calmes' writing brain, waiting to be "born"...maybe the guy they were moving around in the office could use a little love in his life. I know the one that didn't understand the meaning of Witness Protection could. ( )